It’s not that I’m an idiot (although, in the spirit of full disclosure, I sometimes am), it’s that I’m sometimes clueless. Or, forgetful. Or, mentally misplaced. You see, there’s a lot of shit floating around in my cranium. Some numbers, some interesting data, some bullshit ephemera about what episode of what season in what obscure TV show a character walked down the wrong hallway to go to the bathroom, tons of music, a few memorized beautiful things I’ve seen in my days, some horrors I’ve always memorized, and a collection of all the breasts I’ve come across and been mesmerized. Yeah, there’s a pun there. A bad one, at that.

This morning, I woke up and smiled that kind of smile that only happens on a day off. I got up, stretched, did the various things I do when I wake up alone, the scratching of places and releasing of certain human fluids, then went to the internet and began absorbing facts. A typical day. There’s “significant amounts” of water on the mother fucking moon!

from here.

And I was reading some stuff about the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, which I knew I was a few days late to, but it’s still fascinating, right?

I even put on some music as I did this. Made myself a little playlist in my music player and put it on random/shuffle, and you know what song came on several times? My favorite song by the Cure, that’s what. This one:

That’s “The 13th,” and I just adore it. Not the video so much, but the song, definitely.

There was a commercial on TV for a Friday The 13th marathon. And I thought, “Huh, that’s interesting.” Thought about 2012, the batshit crazy stupid but fun looking Roland Emmerich movie that came on today that I’ll probably see tomorrow with Conrad Noir, who tells me he’s not all that interested because he was let down by The Day After Tomorrow. Well, no shit you were let down by The Day After Tomorrow, right? Anyway, that’s most likely on tomorrow’s agenda.

Long story short, it took me until like noon or later to actually fucking realize that it was Friday the 13th. I probably shouldn’t be bragging about that.

It happened at some local coffee shop that I went to, and, well, it was embarassing, but interesting. I live in a small town, the kind where it’s hard to not get to know everyone and their quaint little stories. And all the Southern gothic ghost stories that goes along with it. So I do my best to avoid people as best I can, but today I felt like getting out of the domecile for a bit and going for a run and experimenting with various Pandora stations on my smart brilliant phone.

The search for the perfect Pandora station is man’s constant crawl towards enlightenment, nirvana, and the fingerbanging of God. The pleasure is in the quest, not the capturing because the goal is unreachable, but we still try. That’s the beauty of the humans, or something. Regardless, I’ve been bouncing back and forth, trying to find a good station while running/walking, and I took a chance on an 80s station.

Not bad, but you know what? As great as they can be, Duran Duran and Frankie Goes To Hollywood and “The Safety Dance” just felt a little too gay for this job. I needed something less festive, so I figured I’d shift a decade forward and did a search for an appropriate 90s station. Came up mostly zero, no joke, except for a fascinating station that played 80s music stars trying to make a comeback in the 90s:

Okay, that’s the lovely Bryan Adams song from the Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves soundtrack, which is fantastic all on it’s own (except when it’s used for a Dawson’s Creek fanvid, sorry), but in actuality, the first song that came on that station was Adams’ “Run To You,” which isn’t bad. And following that was some Tom Petty, which is always good in my book, and some Bon Jovi, which is atrocious (though old Bon Jobi works appropiately in some bar settings, I’m loathe to admit), and a whole fucking lot of Guns N’ Roses. It was weird, but I guess it did the trick, workout-wise.

Then I got to the coffee shop, got something to eat, something to drink, and meant to hide myself in the corner with some headphones and devour my meal and some more internet on my phone. Also with me were some printouts of various things I needed to revise and a copy of Warren Ellis’ new POD book, Shivering Sands, which had just come in the mail today. I feel like I’ve read most of it previously (it’s a collection of various writings of his from the internet of the past few years), but still, I was excited.

But as it sometimes can be when interesting people are in the vicinity, and frightfully true when there’s less than interesting people buzzing around you, I got sucked into some conversation. Found out it was 13th day of the month coinciding with the fact that it was also a Friday. Also absorbed some recent gossip. And, because of the recent anniversary, got involved with a conversation about the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War.

You see, the conversation got even more interesting when it turned out that one of the women there was German, a former resident of East Berlin, who had been 18 when the wall came down, and moved to America shortly after. I’ve had a lot of bad experiences with Germans in the past (and no, I’m not referring to World War II, though that was no picnic either, ha ha!), but every once in a while, I have a good experience with their women.

The woman and I talked for some time about the Berlin Wall, and primarily what it was like for her growing up in East Berlin. Essentially, it was bleak, but fascinating. And we had one of those conversations that always pop where she mentions that she was feeling uneasy today because she had left her cell phone at home and she just feels like she’s naked and out of touch, but growing up poor in Germany, they didn’t even have a phone in their house til she was 16. “How did we live in that ancient, strange world?” she asked with a laugh.

She had just seen The Lives Of Others a few weeks ago, she told me, and we talked about the movie, which is really quite good if you haven’t seen it yet, and about the Stasi in general. She told me that the movie scares her because back then, when she was growing up, you just always knew you were being watched, being monitored. You always suspected who was a Stasi man, but you never really knew for sure. And it didn’t hit you until later that it wasn’t so much agents of the Stasi you had to worry about, but those around you because everyone was informing on each other to get ahead.

Could’ve been worse. He could’ve thrown up in her lap.

From there we went into little aspects of German history, talking about “The Iron Chancellor” and how the Prussians united the country a hundred years before the Wall fell, and we even talked a little about Merkel, or “Angie,” as she called her, and told me what a fan she is, being that they’re both East German girls. She told me how it was so weird for her to come to America in her twenties and get a more full view of her own little world up til then and to compare it to growing up in communist Germany, where history was repainted with a propaganda slant. She mentioned that as a teen they were never allowed to refer to the Wall as just “the Wall,” it was always as the “tool for anti-fascist defense” or something like that.

She told me how when she was in school, it was a mandatory field trip for the kids to be taken to the concentration camps and shown all the gross details, the rooms with human remains permanently staining the walls, with the empty shoes of little babies that were turned to dust, the lampshades made out of flayed skin featuring Jewish tattoos. She told me how the physical evidence of the darkest corners of history would never leave her mind and part of her was glad that she was forced to see that shameful part of her country’s past, but that it’s something she knows kids don’t go to see anymore.

I don’t want to use the word “fascinating” again in this post, but that’s what it was. A fascinating conversation, and a fantastic one, informative and insightful. I thanked her for her time and being so patient with my curiousity, and of course for letting me know that it was actually Friday the 13th. Then I left, since I had been there for quite some time and it was starting to look like it might rain. I wasn’t interesting in listening to sad old men with hair plugs crooning bar anthems into my ear, so I just walked in silence, my head heavy with thoughts about everything we discussed.

“Komm rüber!” Hans Conrad Schumann defects, from here.

It did start raining before I got back to my front door, of course, but my mind was elsewhere and I didn’t actually realize it until I was pulling my key out to let myself back in and realized I was shivering there as the water dripped off of me.

And how did you spend your Friday the 13th?

foto - statua di cera di Otto von Bismarck by Sebastian Niedlich (Grabthar) - flickr

Non si mente mai così tanto come prima delle elezioni, durante la guerra e dopo la caccia.

Otto von Bismarck (1815 – 1898) uomo politico tedesco, fondatore e primo cancelliere dell’Impero tedesco.

In Hamburg gibt es eigentlich keine Gentrifizierung. Hier geht das radikaler. Das Gängeviertel wurde nach einer Choleraepidemie im Jahr 1892 Stück für Stück abgerissen – allerdings nicht ganz ohne Grund. Robert Koch schrieb 1892 an Kaiser Wilhelm: „Eure Hoheit, ich vergesse, dass ich in Europa bin. Ich habe noch nie solche ungesunden Wohnungen, Pesthöhlen und Brutstätten für jeden Ansteckungskeim angetroffen wie hier.“ Den Rest, eine Kommunistenhochburg und gleichzeitig inoffizielles Zentrum jüdischen Lebens in Hamburg, planierten die Nazis. Der kümmerliche Rest steht noch, deplatziert und verschämt zwischen Springer-Verlag und Unilever-Hochhaus. Die paar armen Häuser gammeln vor sich hin, weil der Investor, der ein Shoppingerlebniszentrum schaffen wollte, kein Geld mehr hat.

Hamburg im Jahr 2015: Ein Vergnügungspark

Ein paar Schritte von diesem Ort liegt die tote Innenstadt Hamburgs. Das alte Konzept der Trennung von Wohnen und Arbeit, hier verkörpert durch den Bau der Kontorhäuser, wurde, nachdem zunächst noch Wohnbebauung vorgesehen war, konsequent umgesetzt. In der Politik sorgt Konsequenz in ihrer Reinform für Guillotine und andere Rücksichtslosigkeiten, in der Stadtplanung ist es nicht ganz so gefährlich, aber auch schlimm: Tagsüber spucken Büros und Läden, Banken und Werbeagenturen Menschenmassen aus, die eilig durch die Straßen rennen, und um halb neun klappen müde Verkäuferinnen die Bürgersteige hoch und fahren mit der Bahn in die Vorstadt. Nachts sorgen eine Handvoll Hausmeister und Security-Leute für Ruhe und Ordnung.

Noch ein paar Schritte weiter eine Touristenattraktion, die Speicherstadt. Und was uns hier als altes Hamburg präsentiert wird, ist auch nichts anderes als ein geplantes Gemetzel. 1878 forderte Otto von Bismarck 1878 den Anschluss Hamburgs ans Zollsystem des Deutschen Reichs, die Hamburger sträubten sich, denn Zölle hätten den Handel gestört. 1881 wurde ein Kompromiss gefunden: Hamburg durfte eine kleine Freihandelszone, den Freihafen, behalten. Um Raum für diesen Garanten hanseatischer Geldakkumulation zu schaffen, wurde kurzerhand das Quartier auf dem Großen Grasbrook abgerissen. Rund 24.000 Menschen mussten sich eine neue Bleibe suchen – ohne jegliche Hilfe oder finanziellen Ausgleich.

Jetzt, wo der Hafen es sich auf der anderen Elbseite gemütlich macht, gibt es mit einem der größten Bauvorhaben Europas, der Hafencity, eine andere Merkwürdigkeit Hamburgs zu besichtigen. Baut der Hamburger nämlich neu, kann man sicher sein, dass Langweiliges dabei rauskommt. Neue Architektur war hier jahrelang die Bullauge-meets-Backstein-Tristesse von gmp, jetzt ist gerade Glas und Kastiges in Mode, aber eben auch nur halbherzig. Die gesamte Elbbebauung, die gesamte Hafencity: Hässlich bis gähnend langweilig, bestenfalls ok (der Würfelbau gegenüber des Hafenklang). (Ach ja, auf die Elbphilharmonie dagegen, so teuer und überflüssig sie sein mag, darf man sich freuen, weil die Architekten Herzog & de Meuron gut sind.)

Gegen Turbogentrifizierung helfen auch keine dicken Wände

Städtebaulich betrachtet ist das Leben in Hamburg also kein Kinderspielplatz. Und dann noch die Gentrifizierung, die es natürlich doch gibt. Grundsätzlich dürfte der Prozess bekannt sein: Abgewrackte, unsanierte Gebiete werden neu entdeckt, vornehmlich von Menschen höheren Bildungsgrads bei gleichzeitig niedrigem Einkommen, die einen gewissen Pfadfindergeist in sich tragen. Jonathan Lethem hat diesen Prozess in seinem auch sonst tollen Buch „Fortress Of Solitude“ für Brooklyn beschrieben: Die Eltern sind Künstler (Vater malt Filme, nicht gerade ein Garant für Galerie- oder Kinokassenerfolge), Sohn ist klein und einziger Weißer in der Nachbarschaft, Mutter haut irgendwann ab. Das war Anfang der 1970er. 20 Jahre später: Nobelrestaurant neben Nobelrestaurant. Dieser Prozess ist im Grunde genommen ganz normal. Siehe Eppendorf, wo in den späten 1960ern niemand leben wollte. Altbau war unbequem. Das Bürgertum wollte lieber in irgendwelchen vorstädtischen Neubausiedlungen wohnen. Dann kamen die Studenten, gründeten wuschelige WGs. Im Lauf der Jahre wurden sie älter, schmissen die Mitbewohner raus, wurden reich, strichen die Wände, installierten Designeinbauküchen, bekamen ein Kind, bekamen zwei Kinder, und, schwupps, wurde Eppendorf, wie es heute ist. Diesen Weg gingen ein paar Jahre später auch Ottensen und Eimsbüttel. Soweit, so bedauernswert, aber irgendwie ist er ja auch ganz in Ordnung, der Lauf der Dinge. Immerhin nimmt er etwas Zeit in Anspruch,

Den Dingen ihren Lauf zu lassen, ist aber des Hamburgers Sache nicht. Hier hat man sie gerne im Griff. In der Stadtplanung heißen die Konzepte also „Die wachsende Stadt“ (obwohl sie in Wahrheit schrumpft), „Sportstadt Hamburg“ (weil jedes zweite Wochenende ein paar tausend Extremisten 20-mal um die Alster laufen) und „Kulturmetropole Hamburg“ (es gibt zwei Musicalhäuser, einen Schlagermove und die Harley Days). Damit diese Konzepte wachsen und gedeihen, hat man sich in Hamburg für eine Art Turbo-Gentrifizierung entschieden. Ein kurzer Abriss der Projekte, an denen sich die Gemüter derzeit erhitzen: In Altona soll der Frappant-Komplex einer innerstädtischen IKEA-Filiale weichen. Gut, der Frappant-Komplex ist mal wirklich hässlich, aber deswegen gleich abreißen (zumal er gerade sinnvoll mit Ateliers bevölkert ist)? Und überhaupt: eine IKEA-Filiale in der Innenstadt?? Bei der Moorburgtrasse fällt (zumindest mir) die Entscheidung noch leichter. Das im Bau befindliche Kohlekraftwerk ist sowieso schon ein Unsinn ersten Ranges. Um die Energieeffizienz zu steigern, soll nun eine Fernwärmeleitung gelegt werden, unter der Elbe hindurch, wird sie ab Simon-von-Utrecht- / Holstenstraße überirdisch verlaufen und zwar durch die wenigen Parks, die es in dieser Gegend gibt. Widerstand ruft auch das Bernhard-Nocht-Quartier hervor. Direkt gegenüber der Hafenstraße könnten bald ziemlich konträre Mieter einziehen: Dort hat der Investor Köhler & von Bargen eine Reihe von Grundstücken und Häusern aufgekauft und will diese sanieren. Nachdem schon auf dem Gelände der alten Astrabrauerei ein Viertel im Viertel entstanden ist, also eines, das wenig mit St. Pauli zu tun hat, befürchten nicht nur die Anwohner einen weitere verfehlte Aufhübschung des Viertels. Dass die Bahn angekündigt hat, den Clubs Astrastube, Waagenbau und Fundbureau die Verträge zu kündigen, weil die darüber verlaufende Brücke erneuert werden muss, ist dann noch ein weiteres Tüpfelchen – damit schließen drei sehr unterschiedliche und auf ihre Art sehr gute Clubs im eh langsam clubarmen Hamburg. Ach ja. Dann ist da ja noch der kärgliche Rest des Gängeviertels. Der wird zurzeit von einer Künstlerinitiative besetzt gehalten. Große Namen wie Daniel Richter, Friedrich Schirmer oder Matthias von Hartz und auch hanseatische Saurier wie die Patriotische Gesellschaft unterstützen sie dabei, das xte Einkaufszentrum mit integrierten Eigentumswohnungen zu verhindern.

Diese Bänker kennen die Speicherstadt noch aus ihrer Jugend

Nun kann man die einzelnen Vorhaben bewerten, wie man will. Die Gedanken sind schließlich frei und Ikea-Möbel billig. Dass sich aber gegen sämtliche Vorhaben breitgefächerte Aktionsbündnisse formieren, ist in jedem Fall begrüßenswert. Seit der durchgeknallte Richter Ronald Barnabas Schill im Jahr 2001 Regierungsverantwortung übernahm, hat es so eine Einigkeit selten gegeben. Für das Aktionsbündnis gegen Altona-Ikea hat Ex-Szene-Chefredakteur Christoph Twickel einen schönen (wenn auch arg polemischen) offenen Brief an Ikea-Chef Ingvar Kamprad verfasst. Aus dem Umkreis der Goldenen Zitronen (die auch auf einem Aktionstag gegen das Bernhard-Nocht-Quartier auftraten) stammt ein Papier, das sich generell der Idee widersetzt, eine Stadt nach Marketinggesichtspunkten zu planen: „Wir sagen: Eine Stadt ist keine Marke. Eine Stadt ist auch kein Unternehmen. Eine Stadt ist ein Gemeinwesen.“ Stimmt. In diesem Brief wird übrigens auch auf den Städtebau-Theoretiker Richard Florida hingewiesen. Der hatte in seinem Buch „The Rise Of The Creative Class“ behauptet, dass nur Städte wachsen würden, in denen sich die kreative Klasse wohlfühlt: „Cities without gays and rock bands are losing the economic development race“. Das Lustige daran: In Hamburg wird das wieder so gründlich missverstanden, dass man meint, man könne Gays’n’Rockbands durch Reeperbahnfestival und CSD bei Laune halten. Dass es dafür gewachsenen Strukturen bedarf – warum, wenn man doch eine Stadtentwicklungsbehörde hat, die immer mehr zur Eventagentur mutiert? Aber weiter im Text: Gegen das Bernhard-Nocht-Quartier gehen Anwohner ebenso auf die Barrikaden wie gegen Vattenfalls Moorburgtrassenpläne. Klar: Den Argumentationsketten der Gegnerinitiativen haftet eine teils seltsame Bestandswahrungsmentalität an: Wer beschwert sich da? Häufig genug die Leute, die in der Gentrifizierungskette ganz am Anfang stehen. Und ausgerechnet die, die mit dem ganzen Scheiß angefangen haben, holen jetzt den roten Blitz und den schwarzen Stern aus dem Knopfloch und steigen auf die Barrikaden? Aber, wer wenn nicht die? Der Rentner aus der Gerhardstraße, der nach Billstedt ausgesiedelt wird, wohl kaum. Bleibt also zu hoffen, dass wenigstens die eine oder andere Initiative erfolgreich sein wird, denn sonst:

… wird EU-Gesundheitskommissarin Androulla Vassiliou im Jahr 2015 Hamburg besuchen und hernach einen Brief an den Ratspräsidenten verfassen: „Eure Hoheit, ich vergesse, dass ich in Europa bin. Ich habe noch nie solche eine leblose Unterhaltungshölle getroffen wie hier in Hamburg. Man könnte meinen, man sei in einem Vergnügungspark mit Arbeitsmöglichkeiten gelandet.“

De vrijheid is een luxe
die niet iedereen zich kan veroorloven.

(Otto Von Bismarck)

Am 18. August 1893 erwähnte Reichskanzler Otto von Bismarck Nikolaus Beckers «Rheinlied»: «Aber dankbar bin ich der Musik, daß sie mich in meinen politischen Bestrebungen wirkungsvoll unterstützt hat(…).

In diesem Stadium war das Beckersche Rheinlied mächtig und bei der Schnelligkeit, mit der es von der Bevölkerung aufgegriffen wurde, die damals meist noch partikularistisch war, hatte es die Wirkung, als ob wir ein paar Armeecorps mehr am Rhein stehen hätten, als wir hatten.» Diese Worte von Otto von Bismarck zeigen, dass dieses Gedicht von Nikolaus Becker eine starke psychologische Wirkung auf die Kampfkraft der Soldaten hatte. / Aachener Zeitung 2.10.

Aus Beckers Rheinlied:

Sie sollen ihn nicht haben
den freien deutschen Rhein,
ob sie wie gierige Raben
sich heiser danach schrein

So lang er ruhig wallend
sein grünes Kleid noch trägt
so lang ein Ruder schallend
In seine Woge schlägt

Heinrich Heine, aus: Deutschland. Ein Wintermärchen:

Zu Biberich hab ich Steine verschluckt,
Wahrhaftig, sie schmeckten nicht lecker!
doch schwerer liegen im Magen mir
die Verse von Niklas Becker.

Mehr

Hier ein französisches Gegenlied: Alfred de Musset : Le Rhin allemand (nebst weiteren französischen und deutschen Rheinlichkeiten)

1841 erschien eine Anthologie “Klänge aus der Zeit: hervorgerufen durch die neuesten politischen Ereignisse und zunächst durch das Becker’sche Rheinlied”, darin das Rheinlied auf Deutsch, Lateinisch (richtig in Distichen), Französisch, Englisch und Holländisch sowie zahlreiche patriotische Gesänge. (Kann bei Google gelesen oder heruntergeladen werden)

“A conquering army on the border will not be stopped by eloquence.“   — Otto Von Bismarck

“With a gentleman, I am always a gentleman and a half, and with a fraud I try to be a fraud and a half.“   — Otto Von Bismarck

Caricature of Kaiser Wilhelm as Devil, title translated: Enemy of humanity. Reproduction of lithograph by I.D. Sytina, Moscow. c. 1915. (Library of Congress)

In looking around the Library of Congress archives for an illustration for an earlier post, I found the “caricature of Kaiser Wilhelm as Devil.” My curiosity piqued, I found many more. So then I did some poking around to see if I could find out why he was so reviled.

It’s a long and complicated story, but I found this article of particular interest given current events here in the United States.

Only three years after the Reichsgründung [German unification, 1871] and the emancipation of the half million Jews that lived in the new Reich, the Great Crash of 1873 and the beginnings of the ‘Great Depression’ shook the faith of millions in the values of capitalism, free enterprise and progressive Left Liberalism with which the Jewish minority, by virtue of its unique occupational structure, was closely identified. As the cartoon demonstrates (see fig. 2), in the new Germany of burgeoning cities, rapid industrialisation, mass circulation newspapers and mass politics, those in traditional occupations, high and low, felt threatened by this modern world and longed for the security of the old monarchic ‘Christian state’. The Hohenzollern military monarchy was looked up to as a bastion against the rising tide of modernity, symbolised by the Jews.

Caricature of two devils, one of them being Kaiser Wilhelm II, looking at monthly report of murders. c1918 (Library of Congress)

Does any of this sound depressingly familiar?

One of the more depressing truths about this first wave of German antisemitism is the extent to which it was led not by guttersnipes such as Ahlwardt, Glagau, Böckel, Foerster, Henrici and their ilk, but by university professors such as Treitschke and court clergymen such as Stoecker. Another is the degree to which, even at this early stage, the anti-semitism of these learned agitators was unequivocally racial. Adolf Stoecker, who founded his ‘Christian-Social Workers’ Party’ in 1879, proclaimed in the Prussian House of Deputies that the Jews were ‘leeches’ and ‘parasites’, ‘an alien drop in our blood’. The struggle against them was a struggle of race against race’, for the Jews were not part of the German nation but ‘a nation unto themselves’, linked to all other Jews in the world to form ‘one mass of exploiters’. The ‘war’ against the Jews was a fight for the very existence of the German nation, cried Stoecker in 1882. ‘We offer the Jews a fight until complete victory and we will not rest until they have been thrown down from the high pedestal on which they have placed themselves here in Berlin into the dust where they belong.’ Berlin must be a Hohenzollern city, not a Jewish city, he declared.” As the Left Liberal parliamentarian Eugen Richter explained in November 1880, there was something ‘particularly perfidious in this anti-Jewish movement, since what it nourished was ‘racial. hatred, that is to say something that the individual cannot alter and which can therefore only end either in his being clubbed to death or his expulsion over the border.’

The significance of Stoecker’s movement for the political and cultural development of Germany can, as Werner Jochmann has pointed out, hardly be overestimated. In 1891, a quarter of a million people signed a petition demanding the prohibition of Jewish immigration into Germany, the exclusion of Jews from public office, their removal from all teaching posts in public schools and the reduction of their numbers at universities. As Norbert Kampe’s excellent study has shown, the many thousands of university students who signed this mass petition were destined to move into positions of great influence in the state bureaucracy, army, diplomatic corps arid the medical, legal and teaching professions at all levels. Most alarming of all was the support the movement received from the Prussian officer corps and the imperial court.

It’s interesting that Bismarck, who was dismissed from his post as Chancellor by Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1890, was an anti-socialist but oversaw passage of the Health Insurance Bill of 1883, the Accident Insurance Bill of 1884 and the Old Age and Disability Insurance Bill of 1889.

Unfortunately, Kaiser Wilhelm II was as deluded as Hitler with respect to the idea of the Jewish Menace born out of Torquemada’s Inquisition which came about as a result of “infidel hordes from hither Asia … pressing hard on the flanks of Eastern Europe” in the 11th century:

By 1096 these descendants of Attila, known as Seljuk Turks, had overrun all of Asia Minor, threatening at any moment to burst into Europe itself. Worst of all, they had seized the Holy City of Jerusalem, polluting the Purple Blood of the Lamb with their unclean Mohammedan abominations, as Western holy men liked to put it. West Europeans responded to the Saracen threat with a series of military expeditions to the East which ultimately came to be known to Christian posterity as the Crusades to the Holy Land.

To stimulate enthusiasm for the Crusades, preaching friars, hermits, and other persons of undoubted sanctity travelled about Europe enumerating the virtues of exterminating the Infidel and exhorting the Faithful to take up arms against the Saracen host. The precarious toleration accorded the Jews in Europe quickly dissolved in the universal excitement created by the prospect of a Holy War. If it was a pious necessity to destroy infidels in the deserts of Asia, why should they be permitted to blaspheme the Savior at home? Peter the “Venerable, ” abbot of the great French monastery at Cluny, in urging Louis VII of France to undertake the second crusade, spoke for a whole generation:

There were multiple factors which led to the First Crusade to capture Jerusalem. The fractured nature of Europe was changing, smaller kingdoms and fiefdoms were beginning the consolidation which continued through WWII. Nationalism as we know it today did not exist. Instead, religious identification was the tool with which people separated themselves from “the other.”

The spirit of religious reform that had led to the Investiture Controversy had been accompanied by an increase in popular spirituality. People were no longer to accept their religion passively; many wanted to participate actively and to do something positive in honor of their god.

Galilee. Tiberias. The Lido Terrace showing ancient crusader tower, between 1940 and 1946. Matson Photo Service (Library of Congress)

“But of our Germany, which was a nation of poets and musicians, of artists and soldiers, he has made a nation of hysterics and hermits, engulfed in a mob and led by a thousand liars and fanatics …”

Calling Kaiser Wilhelm II the devil seems to be overwrought hyperbole. He certainly earned his place among those without whom we wouldn’t be where we are today, but he seems to have been more reactive than proactive in the damage he contributed to events which followed.

11 p.m. 30 July 1898. Otto von Bismarck had died. Only family members, house servants and a selected group of neighbors were allowed to see the body. No deathmask nor death portrait were made. Not even his sovereign, Kaiser Wilhelm II, saw his mortal remains. By the time the kaiser, who was not told about Bismarck’s condition, finally arrived, the coffin had already been sealed.

But this sacred privacy that the Iron Chancellor demanded was breached by two photographers, Max Priester and Court Photographer Willy Wilcke, who took the above picture secretly. They bribed Bismarck’s forester Louis Sporcke to inform them about Bismarck’s true condition and to let them in when family members had paid their last respects and gone to bed. So around four in the morning, the pair made their way into the house and exposed several plates with the help of the magnesium flashes. The following morning, they were on their way back too Hamburg with their ’scoop’. Their only mistake was advertising their scoop. “For the sole existing picture of Bismarck on his deathbed, photographs taken a few hours after his death, original images, a buyer or suitable publisher is sought,” read their ad in the Tagliche Rundschau of 2 August 1898. Prince Bismarck’s family promptly sent police to confiscate their plates and a civil and criminal court case ensued. Sporcke and Priester got five months each and Wilcke, eight.

In the photo, the deceased chancellor sunk into an unmade bed–totally different the imposing Bismarck of Lenbach’s portraits–was surrounded by a veritably shabby ambiance, with the chamber pot adding an almost vulgar note to the scene. This realism was what shocked the prince’s family. The confiscated picture was finally published in the Fronkfurter Illustrierte in 1952.

For a more lengthy, more detailed account of Priester-Wilcke scoop, see here.

OTTO von BISMARCK (1815-1898), Prussian statesman
Portrait: Franz von Lenbach

Introdução

Em 1815, após o fim das guerras napoleônicas, é organizada a Confederação Germânica, sob a hegemonia da Áustria e da Prússia. As revoluções populares de 1848, marcadas pelo nacionalismo e por aspirações liberais, levaram a formação do primeiro Parlamento Germânico. Em 1862, Otto von Bismarck tornou-se chanceler da Prússia, introduzindo um programa de desenvolvimento industrial e de modernização do Exército.

A Unificação da Alemanha envolveu guerras contra Dinamarca (1864) , Áustria (1866) e França (1870). Em 1871, Guilherme I foi proclamado Kaiser (imperador) do II Reich. A partir de 1880, a nação passou por nova expansão econômica.

O sociólogo alemão Max Weber dizia em sua obra “Parlamentarismo e Governo em uma Alemanha Reconstruída”que a política nacional de Bismarck pretendia exclusivamente impedir a consolidação de qualquer partido forte e independente. Seus meios imediatos foram o orçamento militar e a legislação anti-socialista (de 1878-1890) ; além disso, Bismarck manipulou com total deliberação e destreza o choque de interesses econômicos sobre a política tarifária.Também ,segundo Weber, Bismarck se utilizou das disposições de legislação anti-socialista para fazer a polícia destruir os sindicatos, os únicos possíveis portadores de uma representação realista de interesses da classe operária.

Em 1900 ,Guilherme II,último imperador alemão e rei da Prússia, proferiu um abominável discurso “Huno”, de onde derivou o epíteto comumente aplicado aos soldados alemães nos países anglo-saxões durante a I Guerra Mundial. Ao despachar as tropas que iriam participar da sufocação da Rebelião Boxer, Guilherme II, acompanhado do conde Waldersee como comandante-em-chefe nominal da força expedicionária internacional de tropas russas, japonesas e inglesas, disse: “Não se dará perdão, não se farão prisioneiros. Quem quer que caia em vossas mãos estará à vossa mercê. Assim como os Hunos sob Átila tornaram famoso o nome de sua raça há mil anos,que ainda nos assombra em tradições e lendas, vós imprimireis o nome dos alemães sobre a China por mil anos vindouros, de forma que nenhum chinês jamais ousará levantar novamente o mesmo olhar scheel (vesgo) a um alemão”- um péssimo trocadilho, ele gostava de empregar termos como o do “punho de ferro”que a Alemanha queria aplicar ao mundo. Os discursos penitenciários de Guilherme II já mostrava os rumos que a Alemanha adotaria no Século XX.

A I Guerra Mundial e a República de Weimar

A rivalidade comercial entre Grã-Bretanha e Alemanha, o revanchismo francês à Alemanha devido a Guerra Franco-prussiana, a rivalidade austro-russa relativa a hegemonia na Península Balcânica e o pan-eslavismo sérvio levariam a I Guerra Mundial.

Sob Guilherme II ,a Alemanha passou a apoiar o império Austro-Húngaro contra a Rússia, e veio a ser uma das grandes derrotadas. Com a derrota na guerra foi proclamada a República de Weimar.

Na seqüência, o Tratado de Versalhes pôs fim ao conflito, proibindo o rearmamento alemão, impondo perdas de territórios e estabelecendo pesadas reparações financeiras referentes a guerra.A República de Weimar durou 14 anos (1919-1933) e apresentou graves problemas econômicos e sociais; a inflação disparou em decorrência da emissão de moedas para o pagamento das dívidas relacionadas a guerra.

A partir de 1924, Weimar conseguiu reestruturar seu sistema monetário e passou a apresentar um aumento no crescimento industrial ,vivendo relativa prosperidade econômica, até ser atingida pelo crash da Bolsa de valores de Nova York, em 1929. É neste momento ,depois do crash de Wall Street ,em setembro de 1930, que começaria o triunfo eleitoral dos nazistas ,que passaram a conquistar maior apoio da população camponesa e do proletariado, além de ter o apoio de membros do empresariado alemã. Porém ,seria em 1933 que Adolph Hitler seria nomeado chanceler alemão, pelo presidente Hindenburg. Com a morte de Hindenburg ,em agosto de 1934, Adolph Hitler passou a concentrar em suas mãos o título de chefe de estado e de governo, assumindo assim o papel de Führer ( líder do povo alemão).

III Reich e o governo nazista

Com plenos poderes, Hitler cancelou os pagamentos das reparações de guerra e deixou de praticar as regras pré-estabelecidas pelas nações vencedoras da I Guerra Mundial no Tratado de Versalhes. Voltou a reativar a indústria bélica do país e o serviço militar obrigatório; passou a suprimir liberdades políticas e civis, e passou a defender a superioridade da raça ariana e o expansionismo alemão.

Todos os partidos políticos, exceto o nazista, foram proibidos; os sindicatos foram fechados; a imprensa foi censurada e a perseguição a ciganos, homossexuais, oposicionistas,deficientes e judeus foram iniciadas.

Hitler dizia no livro ‘Minha Luta’ que: “Toda propaganda deve ser popular e estabelecer o seu nível espiritual de acordo com a capacidade de compreensão do mais ignorante dentre aqueles a que ela pretende se dirigir. A finalidade da propaganda não é educação científica de cada um, é sim chamar a atenção da massa sobre determinados fatos , necessidades,etc, cuja importância só assim cai no círculo visual da massa”. Por isso, assistimos durante o III Reich a censura à imprensa e a criação de uma grande máquina propagandista pró-nazismo,administrada pelo Ministro de Propaganda Joseph Goebbels, fazendo com que vários setores da população fossem conquistados. Merece ser destacado que Goebbels sustentava em seu “Diário” que: “Qualquer mentira, desde que suficientemente repetida, acaba sendo aceita como verdade.”

Durante os anos de 1934-1938 , a Alemanha apresentou um acelerado desenvolvimento econômico promovido por reformas. Neste período, as principais potências ocidentais permitiram o crescimento do Nazismo para tentar bloquear a influência da URSS e do comunismo na Europa. Não encontrando resistência por parte das grandes potências, a Alemanha, no ano de 1936, ocupou a Renânia e iniciou uma ofensiva diplomática forjando alianças. Neste período passou a auxiliar economicamente a Itália Fascista de Mussolini e a apoiar o governo franquista na Espanha , além de assinar com o Japão um pacto contra os soviéticos.

Em 1938 ocupou a Áustria, considerado país amigo. Depois, com a condição de não invadir a Polônia, recebeu aval da França e da Inglaterra para ocupar a região dos Sudetos, região habitada por alemães. Hitler aproveitou as desconfianças soviéticas em relação as potências capitalistas e assinou um acordo de não agressão com Josef Stálin. Estava aberto o caminho para Hitler tentar dominar as principais potências européias. O desfecho desta política expansionista alemã daria origem ao mais sangrento conflito da história ( II Guerra Mundial). Em 1945 os nazistas foram derrotados; e na Conferência de Potsdam sofreram severas punições, vendo seu território ser dividido em quatro zonas de ocupação: soviética, norte- americana, francesa e britânica.

Guerra Fria e a Reunificação Alemã

Em 1949, a divisão da Alemanha em República Federativa da Alemanha(RFA) (capitalista) e República Democrática da Alemanha (RDA) (socialista) concluiu o fechamento da chamada “cortina de ferro”, expressão criada por Winston Churchill (então primeiro-ministro britânico). Somente em 1989, com a queda do Muro de Berlim, deu-se início ao processo de reunificação alemã, que seria oficializado em outubro de 1990. Com a reunificação, as disparidades entre o leste e o oeste alemão se tornaram evidentes, provocando um clima de tensão social e a ocorrência de atentados de grupos neonazistas contra imigrantes.

Imigração e Neonazismo na Alemanha

Desde a reunificação, a Alemanha permanece atraindo milhares de imigrantes, o que alimenta um crescente sentimento xenófobo, de rejeição aos estrangeiros. Porém, a estagnação demográfica torna o país dependente de mão-de-obra externa.

Os neonazistas, seguindo as idéias nazistas, pregam a superioridade do povo alemão frente aos imigrantes e constantemente adotam medidas extremas, como: atentados , assassinatos, agressões e outras ações de caráter xenófobo contra cidadãos de várias nacionalidades, ideologias, raças e religiões, como exemplos podemos citar: turcos, árabes, poloneses, judeus, africanos, latino-americanos ,ciganos, homossexuais, dentre outros. Isto ocorre ,principalmente, na região da antiga Alemanha Oriental. Evitando minimizar estes eventos, o governo alemão aprovou em 2002 uma lei que passou a favorecer a entrada de estrangeiros com boa qualificação, impondo assim, maior rigor contra a imigração ilegal.

Parte do que ocorre na região oriental da Alemanha pode ser explicado pelo “choque do capitalismo pós-reunificação”. A entrada incontrolável de produtos manufaturados do oeste para o leste alemão fez com que as defasadas indústrias da era comunista viessem a ser fechadas, desencadeando uma alta excessiva de desempregos. Em contrapartida, as grandes companhias do oeste alemão não demonstraram interesse em promover investimentos na região oriental do país. Isto fez com que o leste alemão passasse a ter, em sua maioria, empresas de pequeno porte, sem poder competitivo.

Visando apaziguar estas disparidades, o governo criou o Pacto da Solidariedade, que vale até 2019. Este Pacto prevê uma ajuda financeira ao leste, por parte dos trabalhadores do oeste, que destinam 5,5% do salário ao programa. Porém, a disparidade tende a permanecer. Possivelmente haverá somente uma breve diminuição destas disparidades econômico-sociais.

Um estudo feito pelo Instituto de Pesquisas Alemão TNS-Emnid ,divulgou em 2007 uma pesquisa que tinha como objetivo avaliar a insatisfação dos cidadãos alemães quanto as disparidades econômicas entre leste e oeste. Os resultados mostraram que um em cada cinco alemães é favorável a reconstrução do Muro de Berlim ; e 74% dos moradores do leste sentem serem cidadãos de segunda categoria.

A população estimada da Alemanha é de 82,5 milhões de habitantes ,dos quais, aproximadamente 7 milhões são estrangeiros, sendo que 25,4% são turcos (cerca de 1,7 milhões de habitantes), o maior grupo de estrangeiros da República Federal da Alemanha, que sofrem constantemente com as ações xenófobas dos neonazistas.

Neonazismo não existe apenas na Alemanha

Os movimentos de caráter neonazista existem em diversas partes do mundo ,cada um apresentando sua particularidade.

No Brasil, podemos destacar a White Power, que originou-se em São Paulo ; os membros deste grupo pregam o orgulho de serem brancos e descendentes de europeus. Eles são contra a migração de nordestinos para o Sudeste do país.

Nos EUA, temos a Ku Klux Klan, organização racista fundada em 1865 por cavaleiros encapuzados que assassinavam negros. Eles pregam a supremacia branca e o protestantismo em detrimento a outras religiões. Incrivelmente, esta organização permanece ativa, atuando esporadicamente.

Estes são meros exemplos, há milhares de grupos racistas espalhados em todos os continentes, cada um pregando uma nova teoria racista contra os mais diversos grupos étnico-culturais existentes.

Conclusões

Uma escola de pensamento antropológico , o Difusionismo , que predominou nas primeiras décadas do século XX defendia a idéia de que havia um número limitado de localidades, possivelmente apenas uma, da qual os mais importantes traços culturais difundiram-se para o resto do mundo. Hoje , no Século XXI , não há dúvidas de que os traços culturais são transmitidos de uma sociedade para outra. Traços culturais distintos são transferidos de uma cultura para outra das mais diferentes maneiras: por guerras , por comércio, por migração, etc.

Como dizia um outdoor em Frankfurt, na Alemanha , logo após a reunificação , em outubro de 1990: “Teu Cristo é judeu , teu carro japonês, tua pizza italiana, tua democracia grega, teu café brasileiro, tuas férias são turcas , teus números árabes, teu alfabeto é latino. E teu vizinho é tão somente estrangeiro?”

Em suma , o mundo em que vivemos é a soma de conhecimentos ,crenças, artes, morais, leis e costumes das mais diversas culturas existentes. Considerar-se superior ao próximo é algo impensado e impossível de ser posto em prática. Apenas seres irreais podem crer em uma raça suprema , perfeita e visionária.

Un tema tan importante como éste aún no lo había tratado en mi blog. Realmente no sé porqué, porque es un tema que me gusta bastante, a pesar de que nunca me ha apasionado la historia bélica (contar batallitas y los tipos de aviones, tanques, el modelo de submarino usado, etc.) Lo que aquí voy a explicar es cómo surgen las alianzas previas al estallido del conflicto, lo que se ha conocido como el periodo de “La Paz Armada“.

En el periodo previo al estallido de la guerra, es decir, desde 1870 hasta 1914, el mundo estaba dividido en bloques de alianzas que el canciller alemán Bismarck se había cuidado de tramar para cubrirse las espaldas y dejar aislada a su eterna enemiga (Francia). De esta manera, hasta 1890 (momento de su caída por el acceso al trono imperial del káiser Guillermo II) traza diversos pactos, estructurados en tres sistemas, que le aseguran aliados.

Otto Von Bismarck, canciller alemán.

El primer sistema es la Entente de los Tres Emperadores (1873), por la que se unían los llamados imperios centrales de la Europa decimonónica: Alemania, Austria- Hungría y Rusia.

En el segundo sistema incluye la Doble Alianza (1879), entre Alemania y Austria-Hungría, y le suma la Triple Alinza (Alemania con Austria-Hungría e Italia) en 1882, y en 1881 renueva la Entente de los Tres Emperadores.

El tercer sistema data de 1887 y comprende dos pactos. El primero de ellos es el Pacto Mediterráneo por el cual, a instancias de Bismarck se unen Austria- Hungría con Gran Bretaña, Italia y España. El segundo pacto  es el Tratado de Reaseguro por el que fortifica la unión entre Rusia y Alemania. Sin embargo, ser a la vez aliado de Austtria y de Rusia requería una gran habilidad política, pues estaban enfrentadas por las cuestiones de los Balcanes (Rusia apoyaba a Serbia que pretendía anexionarse territorios del Imperio Austro-húngaro para formar “La gran Serbia”). Por ello, cuando desaparece Bismarck del panorama político, se abandona este acuerdo ruso-alemán.

Los franceses no desaprovecharon la oportunidad y en 1894 forman la alianza franco-rusa. Parecía políticamente imposible que la república Francesa, considerada radical en su época y el imperio zarista, autocrático y reaccionario, encontraran puntos en común. Así el continente europeo quedaba dividido en dos bloques: alemán-austríaco-italiano y franco-ruso; y todos ellos compartían su recelo ante los británicos, pues no olvidemos que era la mayor potencia colonial y el mayor poder naval, y durante mucho tiempo se habían vanagloriado de su aislamiento.

La relaciones de Inglaterra con Francia y Rusia eran pésimas, especialmente por los conflictos coloniales (en Fashoda -Sudán- con Francia; y en Asia con Rusia). Todo parecía favorable a que, en caso de unión, se decantara por las potencias centrales. Sin embargo, Alemania comenzó a construir una marina de guerra y su importante desarrollo industrial sumado a su interés tardío por el expansionismo imperialista (recordemos que mientras el resto de las potencias se repartían África y Asia, Alemania estaba en pleno proceso de unificación), le hizo chocar, en primer lugar con Gran Bretaña, pero seguida de su archienemiga Francia.

En 1902 el gobierno inglés decide salir de su ailamiento político y firma un acuerdo con otra potencia en expansión, el Japón meiji, para poner freno a Rusia en Asia. Pero el viraje definitivo se da en 1904 cuando Francia y Gran Bretaña deciden olvidar los acontecimientos de Fashoda y los franceses reconocen la ocupación de Gran Bretaña en Egipto y los ingleses la de sus colegas en Marruecos. No hubo un acuerdo esplícito, sino un buen entendimiento, que es lo que se ha llamado la Entente Cordiale.

Tras esto, los franceses, inmediatamente, intentaron reconciliar a sus aliados y aprovechó la coyuntura. Los rusos tras su derrota ante los nipones (guera ruso-japonesa 1904-05), se mostraron dóciles y los inlgeses estaban cada vez más recelosos de los alemanes, así que en 1907 resolvieron sus diferencias en un convenio anglo-ruso.

Así la Triple Alianza (1882, Alemania, Austria-Hungría e Italia) se encontraba ante sí una Triple Entente (1907, Francia, Rusia, Gran Bretaña) más nueva, aunque era más imprecisa ya que Gran Bretaña se negaba a adquirir compromiso militar formal.

Así, tras una serie de crisis internacionales (Marruecos, Bosnia Herzegovina y las dos guerras balcánicas) se llega al detonante de la guerra: el atentado de Sarajevo, a partir del cual se ponen en marcha estas alianzas militares, aunque Italia, no cumplirá su parte, y tras mantenerse un año como neutral, en 1915 se unirá a los aliados para luchar en la frontera alpina contra Austria-Hungría. Pero eso, os lo contaré en otro momento.

Mañana comienza la guerra. Vestido con el uniforme me miro en el espejo de las letrinas, mis soldados esperan mi recital de la mañana, esperan recien levantados a que yo arengue sus ánimos, termine con sus arrebatos de pánico inculcándoles un firme terror por mi figura y que les asigne la próxima tarea basándome en criterios impulsivos puramente personales. Limpio las medallas con un trapo de cocina, las que más relucen las beso ruidosamente. Salgo de allí pateando la puerta. Hoy los cadetes relucen, especialmente atractivos.

“Vosotros, pandilla de mierda, bien es cierto que servís, en primer lugar, a un general, después a un jefe de Estado y por último a una Nación, vuestra nación. Todos vosotros, sin excepción, quereis hacer la guerra. Vais a coger un arma y a poner en peligro demasiadas vidas por vuestra ineptitud. Todos vosotros, soldados, que os atais los cordones, os palpais la cabeza, comeis huevos fritos para cenar, mandais afectuosas cartas nostálgicas a vuestros familiares y os pajeais mirando al infinito, quereis hacer la guerra. Probablemente, ninguno de ustedes, excepto los más viciosos, ha asesinado nunca a un hombre. Yo sí, los he visto caer al suelo y he oido gritos y gruñidos y quejidos que os destrozarían los nervios y os convertirían en pútridos cadáveres que caminan encorvados hacia su vale de racionamiento sin pensar ni siquiera en degustar la comida y dar gracias a Dios.

Frente a este panorama, yo no voy a explicar como matar a un hombre. Hay tantas formas de hacerlo como puntos vitales y órganos y vísceras malolientes. Pero si de verdad buscais dañar a vuestro enemigo, si de verdad quereis destruirlo, sin dejaros cegar por inútiles sentimentalismos de revista de adolescentes, primero debeis de amarlo. Amad a vuestro enemigo, y después odiadlo. Entended sus motivaciones, comprended y sentir sus preocupaciones, sometedlo a un severo análisis y vislumbrar la basura de la que están formados. Sólo las grandes emociones pueden conducir a grandes gestas, y solo un gran amor puede conduciros a un gran desengaño. Vosotros nunca habeis oido hablar de grandes sentimientos, ahora no solo vais a oirlos, sino que también os van a poseer y a someter, y vais a llorar y a patalear y suplicareis regresar al regazo de vuestra mamá, pero vuestra mamá nunca volverá a ser la misma y vuestro hogar, lejos de los tambores de guerra, se os aparecerá frío e inhóspito. Yo no os voy a enseñar como hacer el amor, tampoco como hacer la guerra, cada soldado tiene sus posturas, pero si que voy a gritaros y voy a perseguiros en sueños y voy a hacer que vuestras pesadillas se conviertan en dulces paseos por soleadas alamedas y tardes reclinadas en una mecedora observando el atardecer. Voy a convertiros en hombres”

India is one of the worlds major food producers. The most promising sub-sectors includes -There are currently around 8000 Indian restaurants in the UK making one such eatery for every 6000, or so, of our total population. Given the demographic and geographic realities of this fact, there is almost sure to be an Indian Restaurant in every British small town or large village of 2000 or more inhabitants. Over two million people eat each week at Indian restaurants with another three million households cooking at home some form of Indian food, purchased at their local supermarket.

India’s food processing sector covers fruit and vegetables; meat and Parathas recipe, Paneer Palak Bhujia Recipes, Bhel Puri recipe, Dahi Bhalla recipe, Pani puri recipe, Pav bhaji recipe, Samosa Recipe.

Parathas recipe Ingredients:

Wheat Flour              2 Cups
salt                     1/2 tsp
oil
Ghee/butter/Margarine    1/2 cup
water

Method:
If using Butter bring it room temparature.

Mix flour salt & required water to make a dough consistency.
Rub oil over & knead it soft .Let it rest for an hour.
With a help of a rolling pin take a lemon sized dough .
Roll it to a a small round  & apply some butter /ghee to it.
Fold into two  again fold the same. Start rolling to form a triangle.

Heat a flat pan ,when it gets hot add the paratha and let it cook for a minute.
When it starts to get small bubbles turn around & add a small teasp of oil
around the paratha. When the brown spots appear take it out & keep it in an in a covered box & serve.

Paneer Palak Bhujia Recipes

1. Chop 1 kg washed palak.
2. Heat 4-5 tbsp ghee and fry  1″ piece ginger, chopped and 3-4 flakes crushed garlic.
3. Add spinach and cook for 5 mins.
4. Add salt, 1/2 tsp haldi, 1/2 tsp chilli powder.
5. Then add 3 chopped tomatoes and cook till dry.
6. Mix in 200 gms Paneer.
7. Add 4 crushed elaichi, 2 finely chopped green chillies, and 1/4 tsp amchoor powder.
8. Cook for 3-4 mins.
Serve………

Bhel Puri recipe Ingredients

50g sev
50gms coarsely crushed paapri
100g phuliyan, parwal or puffed rice
1 tsp chilli powderr
1 tsp chaat masala
1 small onion, very finely chopped
2 tbsp finely chopped raw mango
2 green chillis, deseeded, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, very finely chopped (adjust to liking)
1/ 2 c finely chopped coriander leavess
juice of 1 lemon
tamarind chutney
mint chutney
salt to taste

Method – how to make the bhel puri

In a bowl, mix all the ingredients together well. Adjust the chilli powder according to taste.

Serve immediately in individual plates.

Dahi Bhalla recipe Ingredients

1 c urad dal
1 kg yoghurt
2 tsp roasted cumin powder
1 tsp red chilli powderr
1 tsp kala namak -
salt to taste
1 inch ginger julienned
oil for frying
3 tbsp chopped coriander leaves
15-20 raisins
1 green chillli, deseeded & sliverred
mint chutney
tamarind chutney

Method

Wash and soak the dal in cold water overnight. Next day, strain and grind to a smooth paste. Whisk into the batter 1/2 tsp
salt, 1/2 tsp red chilli powder and raisins.
Heat oil in a wok. Drop tablespoons of batter in it and fry until light golden.

Remove, drain on absorbent paper. Put the bhallas in hot water. Leave for 2 minutes. Drain, squeezing out the water between the palm of your hands.

Whisk the yoghurt well with kala namak and salt to taste.
To serve, place the bhallas on a plate and cover with yoghurt. Drizzle mint chutney and tamarind chutney. Sprinkle red chilli powder, cumin powder. Garnish with coriander leaves, ginger and green chilli.

Pani puri recipe Ingredients

250g Pani Puri or gol gappa
125g black chickpeas
100g steamed bean sprouts (lentils should just begin to sprout) – optional
125g potatoes, boiled and coarsely mashed
1 bunch of mint leaves
1/2 bunch of coriander leaves
salt to taste
1/4 tsp chilli powder
6 tbsp pani poori masala
mint chutney
tamarind chutney

Method

Grind the mint and coriander leaves into a paste.
Mix pani puri masala in 2 litres of cold water. Add mint and coriander paste and the ice cubes.

Wash chick peas and soak overnight. Next day, boil in a pan or pressure cook with water and salt, until soft. Drain and keep aside.

Add salt, chilli powder to the potatoes and mix in the chick peas and the bean sprouts, if using.  Make a hole on one side in
each gol gappa, and fill it with a teaspoon of the potato mixture.

Top with a little mint and tamarind chutney.  To eat, dip each gol gappa into the prepared water and eat.
Pani Poori recipe,  Pani Puri recipe, Gol Gappa – Indian snacks recipe.

Pav bhaji recipe – pao bhaji recipe Ingredients

500g potatoes, boiled, peeled and diced
1 c cooked small chopped mixed vegetables – carrots, beans, peas, cauliflower
1/2 c chopped onions
1/2 c ghee
4 green chilis, slit and chopped
1/2 inch ginger, sliced finely
250g tomato, chopped
1 tsp red chili powder
1 tsp ginger garlic paste
salt to taste
5 tbsp butter
1 tsp garam masala
a bunch of fresh coriander leaves, chopped
2 tbsp lemon juice
lemon wedges for garnish
4 pao or buns, halved

Method

Heat ghee in a pan. Reserve 3 tsp chopped onions for garnish and fry the remaining till light brown. Add green chillis, ginger and tomatoes and saute over medium heat for 2-3 minutes. Reduce heat, then add the red chilli powder, mixed vegetables and potatoes.

With a metal spatula, simultaneously mash and stir for 5 minutes. While stirring, keep sprinkling the ginger garlic paste,

dissolved in 6 tablespoons water. Add salt and two thirds of butter. Increase the heat and stir well.

Sprinkle garam masala, coriander leaves, lemon juice and remove from heat.
Garnish with remaining chopped onions.

Apply the remaining butter on the bun-halves, place them on a pre-heated frying pan. Fry until golden brown on both sides.

Serve with the bhaji and a lemon wedge.

Samosa Recipe

Ingredients
4 large white potatoes, boiled, peeled and mashed
1/2 cup boiled and drained green peas
1 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp amchoor(mango powder)
1 tsp red chilli powder
1/2 tsp saunf(fennel)powder
1/2 tsp garam masala powder
1 tablespoon chopped cashewnuts
Salt to taste
3 cups maida(all purpose flour)
1/2 cup maida, for rolling out
1 tablespoon heated ghee or oil
Oil for deep frying the samosas
1 tablespoon ghee(clarified butter) for the stuffing
1 small bowl of cold water

Method
Heat the ghee for the stuffing and add the cumin seeds and
cashewnuts.
When the seeds splutter add the dry powders and fry for 10
seconds.
Add the mashed potatoes and green peas and mix well.
Mix in salt to taste.
Fry on a low flame for about 10 minutes.
Set aside.
Prepare the cover for the samosa by combining
the maida, hot ghee or oil and salt to taste.
Add enough water and knead the dough.
Set aside for about 10 minutes.
Divide the dough into round portions.
Take each portion and coat it with some maida so that
it does not stick to your hands.
Roll it into a not too thin perfect round.
With a pizza cutter, make 2 semi circles with the round.
Take one half circle. Dip your index finger into the cold water
and apply it to the straight edge of the semi circle.
Now hold the semicircle in your hand.
Fold the straight edge , bringing together the watered edges.
Seal the watered edges.
You should now have a small triangular maida pocket.
Stuff it with the potato mixture and now water-seal the
upper edges.
Repeat for the rest of the dough.
Deep fry in oil till golden brown and serve
with mint chutney.
Do not overheat the oil, since this will cook only the
outer maida covering and the inner layer will remain
ncooked even if the samosa has turned dark brown
on the outside.

Există o scenă istorică ce mi-a plăcut mult. Otto von Bismarck era în a doua jumătate a secolului al XIX-lea cancelarul Prusiei. Câştigase o putere foarte mare în acea poziţie, astfel că atunci când un nou împărat a venit la conducere, Wilhelm Iosif al IV-lea, de fiecare dată când voia să-şi impună autoritatea, ameninţa cu demisia. La un moment dat, spre marea lui surpriză, împăratul i-a acceptat demisia, iar Otto von Bismarck a rămas pe dinafara cancelariei.

Subconştientul ne joacă feste interesante. Ironia este că în discuţia din ianuarie, cu D. ultima oară când ne-am văzut faţă în faţă ca să observ şi eu atitudinea ei faţă de ruperea bruscă şi cu scuze palide a relaţiei (of course, argumente foarte puternice pentru ea, toate demontate de mine), a făcut o referire la relaţia mea de acum 2 ani ca “fosta ta prietenă”, ceea ce denotă că subconştient ea încă se mai considera în relaţie cu mine. Probabil că ruperea s-a produs în momentul în care a observat că în ciuda aşteptărilor ei asupra a ce “ar trebui să se întâmple”, tot o iubesc şi mi-a trimis mesajele despre care am scris aici. Probabil de aceea când era aproape de plecare ne sărutam şi ne îmbrăţişam.

Uneori, o formă de a iubi care este cea mai preţioasă, deşi dureroasă, este să laşi persoana să facă propriile greşeli din care are nevoie să înveţe. Desigur, s-ar putea ca atunci când realitatea să li se întâmple oamenilor care procedează aşa, să o recatalogheze, să se ascundă după deget şi să spună că de fapt au avut dreptate urmându-şi intuiţia şi “ce spune inima”, dar în conştiinţa lor adormită ştiu adevărul, iar mai devreme sau mai târziu se vor confrunta cu acesta.

Word: hyperbole [hahy-pur-buh-lee] n. 1. obvious and intentional exaggeration  2. an extravagant statement or figure of speech not intended to be taken literally, as in “wait and eternity”

Birthday: Otto von Bismarck (1815), Big Jim Fisk (1834), Gordon Jump (1932), Debbie Reynolds (1932), Ali MacGraw (1938), Jimmy Cliff (1948), Gil Scott-Heron (1949), Annette O’Toole (1952), Method Man (1971), Rachel Maddow (1971), Bijou Phillips (1980)

Occurrence: 2004 – Google launches Gmail. This should be enough to make April 1^st a national holiday. If you don’t use Gmail, switch now.

Standpoint: Well, its April Fool’s Day and guess who’s got something really funny cooking up? Hackers. The Conficker worm is looking to create quite a stir. If you’re reading this, you’re probably safe. Often, I wonder what it would take for me to become a full-fledged hacker. What steps would I need to take?

Dump my girlfriend – Sorry, honey, but hacking is time-consuming stuff. No more romantic dinners or movie nights for a while. After all, I’ll be trying to take over the world.

Enroll in a martial arts class – Hackers claim they do this for the mental discipline needed to be successful at the craft. I envision some sort of ornate Japanese spear hanging on a wall in my office.

Change my wardrobe – I’ll need to fit in with my hacker brethren so I’ll need lots of ironic t-shirts with clever statements like, “Big Brother Is Watching You” and “Just Because I’m Paranoid Doesn’t Mean They’re Not Watching Me.” Also, buying a wide assortment of Converse All-Stars feels like something I’ll have to seriously think about.

Modify my attitude – Right now, I’m not particularly angry enough to do something like, say, hack into the New York Stock Exchange and collapse the economy. Gotta get mean. Or at the very least, gotta get not-so-apathetic.

Create believable back-story – I’ll come up with stories that I can share with my hacker brethren so they’ll better relate to me. One story will chronicle a particularly horrific gym class involving multiple dodgeballs caroming off my face. Another one will be the tale of how I went stag to my senior prom with my buddy Gilbert and we got totally wasted and made fun of everyone else for “participating in elitist bullshit.” 

Actually learn how to hack – I’ll be good at talking the talk but walking the walk will be a totally different story. Most hacker experts estimate that someone with practically no knowledge of hacking (like me) will need to spend 18-24 months training to acquire the basic necessary skills.

 Seems like a lot of work. I probably won’t do it.

Quotation: If I had to live my life again, I’d make the same mistakes, only sooner. – Tallulah Bankhead

Tune: I hear that, in real life, Alanis Morissette is a cool person. Most of her songs, though, annoy the crap out of me. “Hands Clean” is an exception. I like the whole idea of fast forwarding to a few years later.

Link: Music Map – Like iTunes’ “Related Artist” feature but about 8,000 times better.

Gallimaufry: Not sure which blanket-with-sleeves you should be looking at? You’ve got more options than the Snuggie…Tattletexting? It’s real and coming to a sporting event near you…Hipsters have always been a source of endless amusement for me. For many reasons. Here’s an article by Lauren Alfrey “What Can We Learn by Learning about Hipsters?” Interesting take.

On March 21st, 1871, Otto von Bismarck became the first chancellor of the German empire, when Prussia unified with other states to form Germany. Bismarck had been the prime minister of Prussia before that.

During a ski-jumping contest in West Germany on this date in 1970, a Yugoslavian jumper named Vinko Bogataj wiped out at the end of the ramp and tumbled into the crowd. Bogotaj recovered, and became famous when his spill was used to illustrate “the agony of defeat” in the opening credits for “ABC’s Wide World of Sports.”

The fall of another man on TV on March 21st, 1980, caused a sensation. J.R. Ewing, played by Larry Hagman, was shot in the last episode of the season on “Dallas.” Fans spent months trying to figure out “Who shot J.R.?” until the shooter’s identity was revealed in November.

He went to His monthly church breakfast this morning. The menu: biscuits and gravy,  scrambled eggs and link sausage.  {There’s a menu designed to shock the health faddists — or to give the otherwise healthful eater a break from the routine.}

As He was passing through the line, someone ahead of Him said jokingly to the cooks: “You’d better watch out on the sausage.” {Cholesterol?} [Politics.]

“Why?” one cook said.

“I heard a liberal say that if people knew what was in sausage, they wouldn’t eat it,” was the rejoinder. {Is “Liberal” a bad term in your church?} [To some -- although I would argue that the terms "liberal" and "conservative" have both been hijacked. That's not a topic for a food post, though.]  {We could talk about the liberation of food — in the free-range context or another — and conservation is always worth more than discussion.}

At this point, He interjected: “That’s actually an old quote: Those who love the law and those who love sausage should never watch either being made.” [I've seen it attributed variously to Otto von Bismarck and Winston Churchill.]

“Hm,” the man in front of Him said, and the conversation ended.

We would argue that people who love sausage should watch it being made. {We should watch the life cycles of the creatures from which our foo is made.  If we cannot care for them, then we should know what doing so demands.} We need to be aware of what goes into our bodies, and we need to remember the cost to everyone and everything involved in the process.

An animal had to die to provide those sausage links; they didn’t just magically materialize in the store.  Watching the process from start to finish might not be easy, but it would be more than instructive. Was the animal treated well and dispatched humanely, or did it live in filth and die in terror? If the latter scenario is the case, then yes. We could see people not only giving up sausage from that producer, but urging others to do the same. But if the former is true, we believe ethical omnivores would do their best to support the producers and their products.

Too bad there’s no C-Span for the meat industry. We’d watch it.

Him and Her, mindful of what it takes to put food on our tables.

Se vorbeste in prezent despre economia sociala de piata, despre moralizarea capitalismului, despre rolul statului in combaterea exceselor institutiilor financiare. Toate acestea au insa o lunga traditie si au la baza lupte ale salariatilor pentru a li se recunoaste drepturile. Este bine sa ni le reamintim.
Se stie ca in 1878 cancelarul german Otto von Bismarck emisese celebra „Lege impotriva straduintelor periculoase pentru comunitate ale social-democratiei“. Vazand insa ca prin masuri represive nu reuseste sa zdrobeasca miscarea muncitoreasca, el foloseste tactica zaharelului, facand sa se aprobe in Reichstag, cu toata opozitia unor fractiuni parlamentare, trei legi sociale : de asigurare obligatorie a salariatilor impotriva bolilor (1883), de asigurare impotriva accidentelor profesionale (1884) si de creare a pensiei de batranete si invaliditate (1889). Era pentru prima oara in lume cand se adoptau asemenea legi. In Statele Unite nici pana astazi nu e in vigoare asigurarea medicala obligatorie pentru intreaga populatie, numarul celor neasigurati ridicandu-se in prezent la 47 milioane persoane.
Scopul urmarit prin aceste legi de un mare proprietar (Juncker) reactionar cum era Bismarck a fost cel „de a insufla celor lipsiti de orice proprietate simtul conservator, asa cum se formeaza el la cei ce au dreptul la pensie si asigurare“. Dar, impotriva asteptarilor sale, miscarea soc.-democrata a continuat sa creasca in proportii, astfel incat in 1897, cu un an inainte de a muri, Bismarck recunostea esecul politicii sale: „Problema sociala trebuia atunci rezolvata cu metode politienesti. Acum va trebui sa scoatem armata pentru a-i zdrobi pe socialisti“. Desi cateva decenii mai tarziu imperiul german s-a prabusit, totusi sistemul de asigurare sociala introdus de el a rezistat razboaielor, revolutiilor si crizelor si s-a extins in toate celelalte tari europene.
Printre cei ce au contribuit decisiv la afirmarea rolului statului in combaterea starilor de criza este desigur de amintit John Maynard Keynes (1883-1946). Considerandu-se, in chip modest, doar un publicist ce doreste sa-i avertizeze pe contemporani de necesitatea unor reforme pentru „protejarea de revolutie a civilizatiei fragile“, Keynes respingea ideile politice ale lui Marx, dar accepta unele din analizele lui economice. Apartinand aripei de stanga a partidului liberal al Marei Britanii, el dorea sa imbine eficienta economica cu libertatea politica si cu dreptatea sociala. In calitate de consilier al guvernului britanic, Keynes a scris in 1919 cartea „Consecintele economice ale pacii“, dar celebru a devenit prin cartea „Teoria generala a ocuparii fortei de munca, dobanzii si banilor“ (1936). In ea se demonstreaza ca societatea capitalista nu creaza in mod automat o deplina ocupare a fortei de munca, asa cum afirmau adeptii liberalismului clasic cu al lor „laissez-faire“. Este o obligatie a statului sa intervina in momentele de criza pentru stimularea cererii si consumului, prin introducerea unor impozite diferentiate progresiv si prin extinderea sistemului de asigurari sociale. Statul social (Wellfare State) si-a capatat astfel, prin lucrarile lui Keynes, o justificare economica. Faima lui Keynes si a aderentilor sai a determinat ca, in fruntea delegatiei engleze, el sa conduca in 1944 lucrarile conferintei de la Bretton Woods, la care s-au pus bazele sistemului monetar post-belic. Cu aceasta ocazie economistul britanic a propus infiintarea unei „International Clearing Union“, o banca cu un etalon monetar propriu („bancor“), care sa echilibreze deficitul sau surplusul balantelor statelor. Propunere senzationala, la care s-a opus insa ferm seful delegatiei Statelor Unite, Harry Dexter White, care a propus si a obtinut infiintarea Fondului Monetar International (IMF). Prin aceasta SUA capata putere de veto in toate deciziile, iar rezervele de valuta ale tuturor natiunilor urmau sa fie tinute numai in dolari, indiferent cat de mare ar fi fost datoria nationala a Americii. Daca s-ar fi adoptat propunerile lui Keynes, lumea ar fi aratat astazi poate altfel
Keynesianismul a avut o perioada de glorie intre anii 1941 si 1979, a intrat apoi intr-un con de umbra intre 1979 si 2007 datorita monetarismului si neo-liberalismului, dar incepand din 2008 revine puternic in actualitate, datorita crizei economice mondiale si a nevoiei de moralizare a capitalismului. In 2008 premiul Nobel pentru economie s-a acordat unui cunoscut keynesian, prof. Paul Krugman.
Nu putem incheia aceasta succinta trecere in revista a problemei statului social fara a aminti ceva si despre economia sociala de piata, al carui reprezentant este considerat Ludwig Erhard, fost ministru al economiei (1949-1963) in guvernele lui Konrad Adenauer si apoi cancelar al Germaniei (1963-1969). Situatia Germaniei era dramatica in primii ani dupa incetarea razboiului : lipseau locuintele, desi nu se intorsesera inca din prizonierat 1,5 milioane soldati; industria nu era capabila sa satisfaca cererile de marfuri, numarul somerilor era inca mare. In plus, izbucnirea razboiului din Coreea a raspandit panica inceperii unui al treilea razboi mondial. Atunci, in 1949, s-au luat masurile ce au dus la ceeace ulterior s-a numit „Wirtschaftswunder“ (Minunea economica). In conceptia lui Erhard, aceasta consta in primul rand in separarea stricta a politicii economice de cea sociala. Economiei i s-a trasat sarcina ca printr-o desvoltare dinamica, sa sporeasca rapid nivelul de trai. Efectele dure ale unei asemenea incordari (de pilda 50 de ore de munca saptamanal) trebuiau corectate prin politica sociala. Dar intre eficienta economica maxima si scopurile politicii sociale (egalitate, siguranta locului de munca, solidaritate) va fi mereu un conflict. De aceea s-au adoptat legi stricte de protectie a salariatului : atragerea sindicatelor la adoptarea de decizii in consiliile de administratie, sporirea pensiilor in ritmul cresterii salariilor, asigurarea medicala obligatorie, grija fata de batrani si de cei handicapati, s.a. In acelasi timp in politica macroeconomica s-au luat masuri keynesiene pentru desfasurarea corecta a concurentei, pentru controlul masei monetare, pentru interventia statului in evitarea perturbarilor grave (recesiune, depresiune, crize), pentru o impozitare in trepte, si indeosebi printr-o ampla politica de investitii publice structurale (autostrazi, retele de telecomunicatii, scoli, un vast program de locuinte sociale etc.). Aceasta politica a dat repede rezultate pozitive, dar ulterior i s-au adus o serie de corecturi in dauna componentei sociale. Actuala criza economica este de natura a scoate dramatic la iveala lacunele politicii liberaliste germane din ultimele doua–trei decenii.

Obama: Yo! Nilges! Ed! Getcher butt in here!

Me: Ssup boss…

Obama: Stop callin’ me boss….

Me: OK boss…

Obama: Try Mr President…anyway, gimme four milligrams Nicorette…you got Freshmint?…

Me: Comin’ right up, Mister President!

Obama: Dreamed last night that millionaire child molestors in the Senate who’d transformed into flesh-eating zombies were chasin’ me in the swamp crying tax cut tax cut tax cut…damn…

Me: Mr. President, with all due respect, what part of Karl Rove’s theory of the “base” dontchoo understand? The people who elected you, who paid for your candidacy, they were livin’ at the YMCA because they’d been evicted, and their last Visa hit was your last fund raiser, you dig me, Mister Commander in Chief? You think they can use a tax cut? They can’t even pay their taxes due!

Obama: I dig you, but this is Washington, what part of realpolitik donchoo understand?

Me: Yeah, I read all that sheeeit too, ’bout what Chancellor Bismarck said in the Second Reich, but there is reality on top of reality. Look, the Kaiser fired Bismarck because Bismarck saw the reality of Wilhelmine Germany, which is that it was a land power and not a naval world power: the Kaiser wanted to piss England off by building the goddamn Kraut floatmarine, and Bismarck said to the Kaiser, Willy, you crazy…which he was!

Obama: Nilges! You digress!

Me: OK, I digress! But here in the USA, the billionaires are in many respects no longer billionaires! They gave their money to Madoff the jerkoff! They can’t get no credit at Whole Foods! They shoppin’ at the Red Apple!

Obama: So whuddwedo?

Me: You can start by readin’ Hugo Chavez’ autobiography. Sure, he’s a thug, but you just been elected Thug in Chief of the biggest bunch of thugs on the planet. Home, you gotta cowboy up and crack down on these boys! Otherwise you gonna go back to sweet home Chicago in 2012!

Serambi Jumat KORAN MERAPI 12 September 2008

“Pada awalnya, Islam merupakan ideologi yang menggerakkan dan membebaskan umat dari permasalahan hidup. Dan sekarang, dengan kuasa modal, ilmu dan teknologi, serta tatakelola perdagangan global yang cenderung tidak adil, kita niscaya berikhtiar untuk melacak jawaban. Termasuk dalam hal bagaimana menjawab sistem kesehatan yang nyata-nyata menyehatkan umat. Di bulan yang penuh barakah ini, kita bisa berpikir dengan adil.”
Demikian pengantar Pakde Adib Susila, takmir sekaligus pengasuh kajian rutin, di serambi masjid. Alhamdulillah, tidak terasa Ramadan meninggalkan hari yang ke-12. Kegiatan bulan puasa semakin semarak di masjid kampung kami. Termasuk kajian di situs masjid, yang marak tentang pentingnya membangun sistem kesehatan.

“Ada keterhubungan antara puasa dan hidup sehat, baik sehat jasmani, rohani, dan hubungan sosial. Inilah kebahagiaan yang didamba oleh sistem ideologi apapun. Dalam hadits disabdakan, ‘Berpuasalah maka Anda akan sehat’ (Ibnu Suny dan Abu Nu’aim),” kata Pak Ahmad Subagya, analisis kebijakan publik Prajatama Consulting. Beliau ditemani Ustad Imawan Sahirudin, Pak Andi Rudin Sitopan, Mas Sugiman, dan Pak Sudartoyo.

“Sebagai bentuk peribadahan khusus, puasa menghubungkan antara Allah Swt. dan orang yang bersangkutan. Ada nilai-nilai ketuhanan (rabbaniyah) dan kemanusiaan (insaniyah). Dalam hal ini, niatan membangun sistem kesehatan menjadi niscaya,” tambah Ustad Imawan Sahirudin.

“Maksudnya bagaimana, Ustad?”tanya Mang Ucup.

“Manfaat puasa bagi kesehatan sudah jelas dengan penjelasan medis dan bukan-medis,” jawab Pak Andi Rudin Sitopan. “Masalahnya adalah bahwa hal ini menjadi tanggung jawab negara untuk menyejahterakan rakyat. Bentuknya ya bukan sekedar UU dan kebijakan pemerintah dalam hal layanan dan pemeliharaan kesehatan rakyat. Kita ’kan bicara tentang sistem.”

“Susahnya, kita belum punya sistem kesehatan itu,” sela Pak Edi Safitri. “Musibah virus flu burung membuktikan itu. Kita disuruh mengirimkan sampel virus ke Los Alamos dan WHO menawari vaksin yang tidak gratis. Kita seakan-akan tidak punya sistem dalam konspirasi jual-beli kesehatan.”

“Inilah dunia yang kita hidup di dalamnya. Sejak Otto von Bismarck menerbitkan Reichsversicherungsordnung (Ordonansi Jaminan Kesehatan) di Prusia pada 1881, kita diingatkan pentingnya sistem kesehatan. SDM adalah bagian alat produksi yang harus dijaga kemampuannya berproduksi sebagaimana mesin-mesin pabrik. Sistem asuransi dibangun agar yang miskin mendapat perhatian secara nasional,” kata Pak Ahmad Subagya.

”Kebijakan anggaran kesehatan kita juga tidak fair,” kata Mas Sugiman. “Anggaran pencegahan minim, tetapi ketika deman berdarah menjadi besar. Tatakelola rumah sakit juga menjadi tebar pesona fasilitas fisik, dengan biaya pemeliharaan tinggi. Belum lagi jika menyoal ssuransi kesehatan yang lebih menekankan asuransi sakit.”

“Ibadah Ramadan mengingatkan kita tentang pentingnya keseimbangan dan bagaimana mengelolanya. Ini sebenarnya sistem pengobat, pembersih, juga juga penenang jiwa-raga. Inilah rahmat bagi orang-orang yang beriman, simpul Pakde Adib Susila. “Mari kita bersama membaca surat Al Fajr 27-30: ‘Hai jiwa yang tenang, kembalilah kepada Tuhanmu dengan hati yang puas lagi diridhai-Nya. Maka masuklah ke dalam jamaah hamba-hamba-Ku dan masuklah ke dalam surga-Ku.’”

Ya Rabb, jawaban-jawaban tentang niatan untuk berubah dan tata kesehatan yang lebih baik sungguh mengusik nurani kami. Keutamaan Ramadan adalah ketika kajian-kajian di serambi masjid mampu mencerahkan dan memberi keterarahan batin. Ya Rabb, jawaban-jawaban ini sungguh kami ikhtiarkan untuk negeri kami, Indonesia Raya, di bulan yang menggugah. Wallahu a’lamu bishshawab.

Imam Samroni, staf Yayasan NUN-XXV, Yogyakarta